AFter the Revolution of some Moneths past, wherein the world may have ta­ken notice of several invective and provoking Language, vented by the Author to the disesteem and contempt of Apothecaries in general, with intention to in­vade the profession, and to destroy the very being of a Corporation of the City of London, which hath for many years been constituted, and appro­ved of: by whose good Laws and industry the whole Series of Pharmacy since their constitution hath been improved to as high and laudable a pitch, as in any forreign Nation or Republick whatso­ever. It seems now notwithstanding that the Apo­thecaries not having much concerned themselves [Page 2]as to their publick Vindication from those many and scandalous aspersions in all this time, but (like a Company of stout valiant men, that I may use Tully's Ironical Language in his Orat. in Catilin. Nos autem viri fortes satisfacere Reip. videmur, si.—) have satisfied themselves to acquiesce in modest silence; which hath made the Criminator pro­ceed still to insult over them, willing to make the world believe that their silence speaks them really guilty. The consideration hereof hath prevail'd with me now at last, though an unfit person, and contrary to my Genius, yet being a real well-wisher to both the Societies of Physick and Pharmacy, to endeavour to vindicate the cause of the Apotheca­ries (though not at all commissionated by them) and to evidence to the World, that all is not Go­spel, which the Criminator hath alledged. And though possibly I may be called Ignorant-fellow, and Illiterate-fool for my pains, (and indeed I pretend not higher) nor do I expect less from the Criminator, Nolo altum sapere: yet Children and Fools often times speak truth (if our English pro­verb be true, which I shall endeavour to make good.) Therefore that I may according to that small capacity I have shoot that Fools bolt of mine in some measure to clear the Company from those aspersions unjustly charged upon them, I shall ad­venture upon it, not willing to deliver any thing which may give any just offence to either Society, but rather (if it be not too much presumption in me to hope to bring about) to create a right un­derstanding betwixt them, but [Page 3] ‘— Haud equidem tali me dignor honore.’

Tis true, I am no Philosopher, nor yet pretender to Learning, and therefore (impar congressus,) and more cannot be expected from me at best, than truth and plain English.

In Order to this ensuing Vindication I do seri­ously and really declare.

1. That it is not in my thoughts to vindicate any private person, member of the Company of Apo­thecaries, in any unlawful action, or uncivil deport­ment towards any of that Honorable Society of the Colledge of Physicians.

2. Nor shall I go about to countenance any members of that Corporation to take upon them the practice of Physick, but to advise them rather to keep within their lawful bounds, and to mind their own business, and employment, which they have been, or at least should have been, bred up to, and versed in; Quam quis (que) nôrit artem, in eâ se exerceat, & in eâ versetur. Let them not act be­yond what reason and the known Laws of the Land will bear them out in; Tractent Fabrilia Fa­bri; And let them not entrench upon the Physi­cians profession, but in all lawful ways, so far as becomes them, be subservient to them in all their rational commands and prescripts.

3. Neither shall I plead for such as are dishonest or negligent in their own profession. I doubt not, but that the Company of Apothecaries will be vi­gilant and industrious to find out, and discover all [Page 4]such persons, ut poenas luant debitas, to punish such according to their merits, as far as their power will extend.

4. Nor shall I presume in the least (longè longè absit!) to derogate from, or lessen th' authority, or preheminence of that Honorable Society of the Colledge of Physicians, which they may justly claim over th' Apothecaries, grounded upon the foundati­on of Law, Equity and Reason. And so much I pre­sume hath ever been and will be acknowledged by the Company, who are as unwilling to entrench up­on, or infringe, any of the just Rights and Privi­ledges of that Honorable Society, as they are willing and ready and obliged to preserve their own: and are ready to hearken to any expedient for the re­conciling the unhappy differences betwixt the two Societies. I hope it will not lie at their doors (as I hear some of the chief of them say) if there be not a happy concurrence; faxit Deus!

Having therefore now declared, what I shall de­cline in these following lines, I shall take the bold­ness to make it my business as well to doe the Ho­nourable Society of Physicians right, as to vindicate the Company of Apothecaries and the honest mem­bers thereof from those Criminations of the Worthy Doctor, and to invalidate his Allegations and Ar­guments, together with his Only Remedy. And this I shall endeavour to do by offering some Short and Modest Animadversions upon them, or at least upon such of them, as are most material for the world to take notice of. And then sub Judice Lis est Let all Judicious sober persons judg where the mistake lies.

[Page 5] There came forth in Print some Months since a severe Treatise Entituled A short View, &c. as in the Title Page — Wherein the Author hath not only been so free with th'Apothecaries, as to call them Illiterate fellows, liars, dishonest, pittiful fel­lows, pittiful Ignorant souls, praters and what not: but also hath taken upon him to asperse most of his own profession, who are in the general, persons of known Integrity, Learning, Sobriety and honour; some of them he entitles, unworthy Phy­sicians, covetous, wanting parts; necessi­tous persons; as appears in his fourteenth page of his first Edition. Others he accuseth of Laziness, Ignorance, want of will to do good for the sick: pag. 68. of his second Edition. Nor is it the first time that the Worthy Doctor hath vented his displeasure against some of the most Eminent Fel­lows of the Colledge, though contrary to his ex­pectation and intention, nor much to his own ad­vantage, or their detriment. But why worthy Doctor so angry at your Colleagues? Why so cen­sorious upon such of them as do not comply with your design that they must be admonish'd? Have they need of such a Monitor? In good time Domine Doctor, Eóne Imprudentiae ventum est? a little more prudence in my opinion might have done you no hurt. And therefore as a Learned Doctor in Physick and a Colleague hath candidly, yet modestly ex­pressed himself lately to the like purpose. I would not have you think, saith he, I am now justifying every member of our Society in every thing. We are not (perhaps) all prudent and good [Page 6]natur'd men. I conceive that to be the sence, and per­haps more of that Colleague, as also I doubt not but that he speaks the sence of the rest of the Ho­nourable Society in the same particular, to whom the Criminator is sufficiently known with his de­portment.

But these things are but preliminary. I shall now according to promise make some Modest Animad­versions in order as I find them, that require an­swering.

First, in his frontispice, or title page, I take no­tice of these ensuing words, A short view of the Frauds and Abuses of the Apothecaries &c. and of the Only Remedy thereof by Physicians making their own Medicines. I fear Worthy Doctor that the En­glish proverb may here be verisied, that The Remedy will prove worse than the disease, and I hope I shall make it appear. Next in the same title page in the close of it, the Worthy Doctor quotes an ancient Distich in Medicastros, against Mountebanks,

Which Distich he hath perverted, and Metamor­phos'd the persons, shussling in Nutrix and Pharma­copaeus into the pentameter in stead of Judaeus, and histrio, which two former are not found in th'Ori­ginal. Consult Lobel in his Prooemium to his Animad­versions upon Rondeletius his Officina Pharmaceuti­ca Dedicated to the Colledge of the Physicians of [Page 7] London, and Printed Anno 1605. The Original there quoted, is,

But that's not all, for he hath caused Pharmace­poeus to be Printed Typis distinctis in another Cha­racter, in a Capital Letter, as if he had a design digito monstrare, to point him out for his Capital enemy, and the rest to stand by pro formâ tantùm. Dat veniam Corvis, vexat censura Columbas, which in plain English is comprehended in this Distich,

Durus est hic sermo! A hard censure from the quondam Censor! but what remedy? statutum est; Cir. Orat. in Catiliu. notat & designat oculis ad caedem unumquem (que) no­strûm, may the poor Potecary say, as that Eloquent Cicero in his Orat. in Catilin.

Next to the frontispice, the first page of the mat­ter marked pag. 5. Pag. 5. Occurres the Worthy Doctor's Apologetical Preface in order to his Noble at­cheivements, and his taking a new trade upon him.

Doubtless it will seem strange to most men, D. M. that after thirty years not unsuccessful practice in this great City, I should now at last forbear sending my bills to Apothecaries.

I shall not undertake or presume to put any esti­mate [Page 8]upon the Worthy Doctors proficiency in his thirty years practice, neither how successful or unsuccessful he hath been in all this time (it is a­bove my Sphere to determine;) but shall rather refer the Reader to something lately published by an in­telligent knowing person of the same faculty, who is able to make right judgement in the case, and it is totidem verbis;

If we might take an estimate of his parts from his writings, 't was manifest he might better employ his time in studying the Method of Physick than in Com­posing of Medicaments: that after thirty years pra­ctice 'twas evident he understood not the Rudiments of that Noble Science, nor could state a case therein.

But I pass that, not willing to recriminate, or re­taliate, but modestly and calmly to endeavour to vindicate the Apothecaries from the Worthy Do­ctor's uncivil and unkind reflexions.

In the next page he proceeds to Apologize for himself, Pag. 6. telling you what a publick spirited man he is, and that he hath no other design but the good of his Country men, and to do Mankind good by resto­ing his profession to it's ancient and deserved honor.

But Quid verba audio cum facta videam? To what purpose do I hear words, against actions that are point blank to the contrary? 'Tis in plain tearms no more than Verba dare, which is in plain English no less than to deceive and delude.

[Page 9] And that he may put the better gloss upon the sharpness of his writings, he would make you believe he does but speak the Common language of all Physicians, wherein certainly the Colledge of Physi­cians are very little beholding to him, and certainly he deserves to be called to a Redde rationem.

In the next place he tells you of a book that came forth from an Inquisitive person the year be­fore upon the same Subject, which because the Company of Apothecaries have not given answer to, he takes it pro concesso, that their silence hath rendred it Authentick. But why, from an Inquisitive person? Cum vides velatam, quid inquiris in rem absconditam? but I conceive the Worthy Doctor put him upon this Inquisition intending to make use of him as his Prodromus, but it seems he came short, as he intimates, and was not Satyrist enough as the Worthy Doctor conceiv'd, and therefore himself will undertake to make it up, and to strike the nail home to the head. So that I shall wave to return any answer to that, nor did the Company of Apothecaries think it convenient to answer it, unwilling to engage in any quarrel of that nature without further provocations; conceiving that any sober person might easily discover the scope and drift of it. And besides 'tis probable that the Inquisitive person be­ing but a young Doctor, or at that time no Doctor but a Student in Physick, might not speak so much his own sence as the sence of some such Suborner, who might be willing to make use of him to break the Ice, like as 'tis in the story of the Ape, that made use of the young Catling's foot to pull the roasted Chest­nut [Page 10]out of the sire, not willing to burn his own Paw. Besides this Inquisitive person did it as himself ac­knowledges currenti calamo in haste, and though the person be an Ingenious Learned man, yet we know the old proverb, Canis festinans — I wish he had taken the advice of some more considerate, so­ber, and Judicious person before the publishing: I believe it might have turn'd to a better ac­count.

The Worthy Doctor goes on, hoping to prove that these abuses complain'd of, as he saith, by all sorts of persons, arise from this only cause that Physicians make not their own Medicines, Exitus acta probat. — still he proceeds. —

But before I descend to particulars I shall first lay down this Proposition, Pag. 7. their own confession, and in their own Language, viz. That they may be the veryest knaves in England. Because they may put in bad Ingredients, and more or less, or substitute one thing for another; and all this without being de­tected, and consequently not to be punished — Quid inde? What doth the Doctor infer from hence? How doth this advance your cause? Novimus & qui te — If the Doctor takes the Knave Apotheca­ries trade upon him; this puts in bad Ingredients, and the Doctor may put in worse with less suspicion of being detected, having no supervisor; he may say as Cato once, when he had got the Sword in his own hands, and no body with him, Sum mei Juris; he may be his own Carver. Whereas the Knave A­pothecary hath not only servants whose eyes are still upon him, but Censors of the Colledge, and [Page 11]Wardens of the Company to search and call to ac­count; so that for fear, if not for conscience, he may prove the honester man. Turpe est Doctori —

Hoc supposito, that the Doctor hath more oppor­tunity to be as bad, or worse, than the Knave Apothe­cary, what hinders then according to his own infer­ence that it may not as clearly follow, that whatso­ever deceit covetous wits can invent, may at least be suspected to be used by the Good Doctor? If there be not the same reason for the one, as for the other let the world judge. And by the same conse­quence what great reason I pray will there be for any future Allegations of the Doctors to gain belief? And here it seems he hath done with the possibility of an Apothecaries being the veryest Knave in Eng­land, and I also have given my thoughts in plain English of the probability of the Doctors outstrip­ping the Knave Apothecary, by reason of his better opportunity, and less fear of being detected.

Most men wonder that this Corporation being but of few years standing, Pag. 8. &c.

Hoc nihil ad Rhombum! This is plain enough to be a piece of pure Envy, Invidus alterius rebus —

Next in order he ranks up the frauds by them committed, as,

• 1. They use Medicines quite contrary to the pre­scription.
• 2. They falsifie the grand Compositions of the London Dispensatory, and put them not to open view —

I believe there may be some such persons, that may be so dishonest as to use these indirect ways, and [Page 12]are so crafty by their subterfuges as to evade the searches both of the Colledge and the Company of Apothecaries, who are Authorised to that end; but what is this to purpose? grant it to be so! shall the whole Profession with the honest Professors thereof suffer therefore? and their good Name Trade and Lively hood, shall they be taken away be­cause there are Knaves of the same Profession? Nay I conceive rather that honest men ought to be the more valued, and the Corporation, which do their endeavour by all the best meansthey can to discover any such frauds, and to punish the Authors, ought to be never the less esteemed.

So also for the Sophistication of Chymical Oyls, which he seems in the general to charge upon the Chymists. I shall in brief let him know that there be many Apothecaries destil them themselves and make all their Chymical preparations, which are in use. And the Company is now inter aedificandum a preparing a Laboratory as I am informed, that such as have not conveniencies at home to prepare such things, may have them faithfully prepared there, where care will be taken of the honest and faithful preparing of them.

6. Pag. 12. Many of the London Apothecaries, and most of the Countrey Apothecaries buy of the Whole sale-men, who do some of them confess they cannot sell their Medicines honestly made, at so low rates as they do, which implyes that such do not make them honestly.

This is something Doctor that you say, that I shall not oppose you in. But what doth this concern such as make all their Compositions themselves, or buy [Page 13]them at least of such Retail Apothecaries as they know to make them faithfully, and trust not to the Whole-saleshops at all? and such I conceive are most Apothecaries who have any considerable em­ployment. If any do otherwise, I plead not for them; though I doubt not but there may be some Whole-sale Apothecaries honest men, and such as make good Medicines faithfully, Caveat Emptor! Let the Countrey Apothecary, or any other that are enforced to make use of them endeavour to pick out the honestest, though not the cheapest!

As to his following Criminations the seventh and eighth I pass, as not worth the Answering, Pag. 13. and to the ninth, I shall say no more, but Risum teneatis amici, who can forbear laughing at the Seedman and the Worthy Doctors man? But, ‘Quid domini facient, audent cum talia fures?’

If the Doctors man be so bold as to bring such ri­dioulous tales home to his Master, what will not the Worthy Doctor himself do to encourage him further and to make it good?

10. Pag. 14. By reason that more frauds may be committed by the Apothecaries than by any other Trade, and by supposition that gain will tempt most men — I say that this seems to be the cause, why they have two Supervisors set over them more than any other Company.

To this I answer, that if gain will tempt most men to dishonest actions, especially when they may act undiscovered, the Worthy Doctor is a man, and a [Page 14]man that loves gain as appears, and why may not he more easily be tempted to dishonest actions? espe­cially when he may act alone, having turn'd the Knave Apothecary off, and having no Supervisors set over him, neither Censors of the Colledge, nor Ma­ster and Wardens of the Apothecaries to detect him. This Auri Sacra fames — the Golden-fees I fear may tempt such a man, — quid non mortalia cogit —?

The next thing is th' enlarging and multiplying their Bills and Medicines, Pag. 14. and this is comprehended in nine Criminations. To the first eight I have not much to say. The Colledge have power by their Charter to punish such as are guilty in that kinde; nor does this concern the Company, who approve not of any such actions, nor do they own them, being not warrantable, nor justifiable.

As to the ninth, Pag. 15. But their principal art of all is to cry up, and bring in to Patients such unworthy Phy­sicians, who through Covetousness do, or through meanness of parts or want must, comply with th' Apo­thecaries interest. Pag. 15. of the first Edition.

To this I reply, that it is no marvel that th' Apothe­caries are so Criminated, when Physicians allowed of by the Colledge shall be so calumniated by him; and besides to rise up to that pitch of Envy, as to deny them so much as good Language from th' Apo­thecary: they must not (forsooth) be call'd Good Physicians. Now these Physicians whom this Gentle­man so much decryes are either Fellows of the Col­ledge, or Candidates; however, such as are approv'd of by the Colledge: otherwise I presume the Cri­minator [Page 15]would not have conceal'd it. But how­ever they are Physicians, and called Good Physici­ans, and yet higher by some, as the Doctor intimates and stomacks at, Good Apothecaries Physicians. Why Doctor? You may possibly have as large and high Encomiums conferr'd on you, as any of them have. A Physician, nay a Good Physician, a great Philoso­pher or a great pretender to it, a Learned Physician. Nay since there is a title that the Doctor seems to bear himselfe high upon, One of the Fellows of the Colledge of Physicians London, and thereupon may think himselfe undervalued to have his Juniors (which, happily, are no Fellows of the Colledge) to be so courted with Good language, and to out­beard him that hath been a long time Fellow, there­fore it is not denied, that he may not be baulked of his due merit; nay 'tis evident enough and without dispute that he is and hath been a long time a Fel­low of the Colledge, and possibly a Good Fellow too; for he hath done many good offices for the Col­ledge interest; a Good Steward when time was; and therefore why he should be debarr'd of any Good E­pithete, I see no reason, [...]. But un­der favour Good Doctor, you are a little too bitter against your Colleagues, enlarging your subsequent discourse to their disparagement, and vilifying, in Language not beseeming a fellow of so honour­able a Society, those of your own faculty.

To advance the prices you shall hardly ever see a bill without Bezoar or Pearl in it to make people think them very chargeable: Pag. 18. whereas sometimes there is not above a grain or two of those dear Ingredients [Page 16]in it.] This does not sonare Collegam Londinensem, it doth not sound as if it should come from the Pen of a Fellow of the Colledge; the more under­standing Colleagues prescribing familiarly in a Cor­dial Julep one hundred or an 100 and twenty grains of Pearl for such Patients as are able to pay for it.

And further Learned Zwelfer (who was bred an Apothecary as appears in his Preface to his Animad­versions upon Augustan, whom the good Doctor is pleased to mention elswhere with a great deal of honour as he well deserves in many things I dare not say in every thing,) in his Animadv. in Confect. Aromat. Class. 11. tells us totidem verbis; vidi non semel integras drachmas lapidis bezoar & perlarum orientalium pro dosi insigni cum emolumento e­grotantibus porrectas esse — I have seen and that not once, saith he, whole drammes (which is sixty grains) of Bezoar stone, and Oriental Pearls for a dose given with very good or signal success. And therefore the Criminator might very well have spared this Ad­vance and salved his Credit: but we will allow him his grains. It seems by this that he is seldom call'd to any consultation with such of his An­cient Colleagues, who understand the Materia Medica a little better.

By reason of the Dear Bills of Apothecaries many and deterred from going to the Physician, Pag. 19. and run to common Mountebanks.

The Worthy Doctor is still clamouring against the Dear Bills of Apothecaries. This bait he thinks will take best, because every body in common prudence would be as saving as they may. And I [Page 17]cannot say but that 'tis commendable so to be; but Incidet in Scyllam qui — The patient that goes from the Apothecary to this good Doctor for his Medicines or Physick, thinking to save by it, will certainly, as we say, leap out of the frying pan into the fire. Nevertheless I shall not go about to ex­cuse any Apothecary, that shall in his prices set higher rates, than equity and conscience will allow, as that person that made the Patient pay twenty four shillings for twenty four ordinary Pills, as Doctor C. T. intimates (but such a one is but è millibus unus; I have no plea for him, or any such.) Onely thus far I shall plead for such Apothe­caries, as make use of the best Ingredients, and make their Compositions faithfully, and dispence Physicians Bills conscientiously, and in order to perform their trust are willing to be at any charge though extraordinary, and not to stand so much upon the dearness, as upon the goodness and soundness of the Ingredients, though possibly they may cost three or four times as much as others more frugal and less conscientious do buy for; I say then I desire to be satisfied, whether such an Apothecary (and such to my knowledge there be) may not with a safe conscience allow himself the liberty of a competent proportionable gain, and the Patient, all things considered, no whit injur'd by it. Est modus in rebus — Sit modosecundùm aequum & bo­num! for to buy dear and sell cheap is not the way to make the pot boil, as we say. But there is a sort of peo­ple in the world, hat pretend to be wise, but under­stand not to disinguish betwixt things & things, being [Page 18]out of their cognizance, and element, who, so they may buy cheap, care not what they be served with, or how they are abused and cheated. Penny wise — But we have an English Proverb, A Larke is worth a Kite, which may assoon be verified in th'Apothe­caries Profession as in any; both to the Buyer and Seller. And I must tell you thus much in plain tearms, that an honest Apothecary that sells dear, many times gets less by much than some others that sell cheap. And besides a Learned Doctor in Phy­sick, The Accomplish'd Physician, though he hath not been wanting to contribute in his Lash to the aspersing of the Company as well as of Lex talionis, yet hath in this point been so candid and impartial, Pag. 76. as to let the World know, Ac. Ph. Pag 76. that the honest Apothecary (for he grants there be some such) is not onely to be considered, and pay'd barely for his Medicines, and Materials which are exhibited, but also to have some allowance for such things as he provides in readiness in his Shop for Patients, though they be not made use of, but being exo­lete or decay'd is forced to throw them out of doors, or into the fire: As also to have some con­sideration for attendance extraordinary, which many times is expected from the Patient, and that at unseasonable hours, partly to be satisfied in some scruples of Regimen, or possibly to give ac­count to the Physician, when he is not at leisure to visit the Patient himself.

And further, They that have occasion to make use of Lawyers, & Counsellors, & Sollicitors, about their Estates, think it not prudence to starve their [Page 19]cause; and if so, then for life, and health (for non est vivere, sed valere vita) what will not a man give? I speak this as to the concerns of the Patient as well to Physicians, as Apothecaries, that when they have faithfully performed their trust and duty as they ought to do, they deserve as much encouragement from them that had occasion to make use of them, as any members in a Common­wealth whatsoever. And t'will be no imprudence for the Patients ( bona si sua nôrint, if they did but really weigh their own interest) to consider it, and not to think to be too great husbands, as we say, to either of them in their gratifications. But I speak this onely of such Patients as are of ability to do it. As for the poorer and meaner sort secundùm magis aut minùs, I doubt not that ei­ther Physician or Apothecary, honest, conscientious, and expert in their several Professions, do or will want bowels to extend their Charity, or will be remiss in their bestowing their pains gratìs, when there is occasion. Pag. 19. The Worthy Doctor proceeds — S. Augustin candidly in his book of Confessions de­clares, that through Covetousness he repeated a course of Physick without consulting the Physician, who had before cured him of the same disease, to his great charge, danger of life, and Offence against God.] Whether S. Augustin be quoted as this Worthy Doctor alledgeth may be question'd; because all that he says is not look'd upon to be Gospel; but grant it were; What? How comes this change about? Is Saul also among the Prophets? I could not conceive that this Doctor had any time or [Page 20]leisure to consult S. Augustin because of his dou­ble diligence and imployment in his two professi­ons; but this I am confident of, that S. Augustin never taught him any such Monopolizing way, as he hath entred upon. But the Grand Criminator alledged Scripture we know to whom; and for this the Worthy Doctor may have his Liberty to quote S. Augustin. Nevertheless, I cannot say, that I judge it reasonable, that an Apothecary should repeate a whole course of Physick, prescribed for­merly by a Physician, without his knowledge or direction, if the Physician be inter vivos, and may be had, and consulted; though sometimes possibly a Patient may be very importunate out of frugality to save Fees, and their importunity might possibly prevail with the Apothecary against a mans own inclination. But there may be many alterations in the case. And therefore what ever disaster should happen upon it (as often it doth or may) th' Apothecary is certainly upon the safer and surer ground, when he hath a Physician's prescript for his Warrant to justifie his actings. And this I suppose all honest and prudent Apothe­caries must and will acknowledge.

Next he comes to neglects and mistakes. Pag. 19.] And can the Patient conceive, that this Criminator, gi­ving himself the liberty he useth to do, can quit himself better, or can or will take better order for the preventing such mistakes, than an able, con­scientious and sober Apothecary can or will do?

As for that which relates to any disrespect, Pag. 20. or [Page 21]uncivil deportment or unbeseeming language of any particular member, whereby the Honourable Society of Physicians might be scandalized and offended, the Company of Apothecaries do disown, and disallow any such actings, nor were they ever insti­gators or promoters of such, nor will be; And therefore I hope it ought not to be cast in their dish by the Good Doctor.

Another manifest sign of their endeavour to usurp our practice is their absurd calling the sick their Pati­ents, Pag. 26. &c.] Here's a straw the good Doctor stumbles at; quid adfert? quid aufert? sic fuit ab initio, and so it will be donec Orcus ab Acheronte animas di­miserit. Patients will be Patients to Physicians, and to Apothecaries; and you must give the Patients the Lie, if you allow it not, for they will call themselves so. Nor is it more, than Clients are Clients to Counsellors, and Attourneys, and Sollici­tors without any regret of the Counsellors or de­tracting from them, that ever I could hear of. But the good Doctor must Monopolize, and catch at a very shadow, though he should lose the sub­stance.

As to the Remedy and th' Only and proper Remedy, Pag. 27. that Physicians make their own Medicines—It be­ing the desire of most persons and the censure of all wise men.—

The Good Doctor takes here a great deal of li­berty: but where the contrary is so obvious to the world, me thinks he ought not in prudence to hy­perbolize to such a height. It is the desire of most men;] the Good Doctor could wish it were so, and [Page 22]so he may be in part excus'd. Facilè credimus, quod volumus: but he knows in his Conscience that there are a hundred Negatives for one Affirmative. 2. That it is the censure of all wise men.] Wise men may possibly sometimes be mistaken; Nemo omnibus horis sapit; but nequicquam sapit qui sibi non sapit, was the opinion of Alexander the Great, and our English Proverb is never out of date. Some men are wise, some overwise, and some otherwise.

Chirurgions will not trust them to make External Remedies.] Pag. 28. Qui nescit dissimulare nesoit vivere. Now he Collogues the Chirurgions, at whom he hath also an aking tooth, could he have but a fit opportunity, or the least power, to do them a mischief.

He will avoid the trouble put upon him by th' Apo­thecaries Ignorance in not understanding it, Pag. 31. who use to come to the Doctor to be informed.

I shall not need to go far for an answer to the Good Doctor's convenience of being freed from such trouble. — It is in prompiu from a Learn­ed Person of his own faculty in these words, Physicians are mortal men, Ac. Ph. Pag. 61. and may (and oft have) in a debauch'd humour prescribe improper Medicines, and most Improportionate Doses which an Apothe­cary by th'experience of his Trade may discover, and repair for a rectification the next Morning, when the cloud is over with him. But in case the Patient be to take that Improper Medicine, or Improportionate Dose the same night, whilst the Doctor is upon that merry pin (I will not say De­bauch'd), [Page 23]then the Ignorant Apothecary may prove the wiser man for that night by consulting some other sober Physician in that point, and there­by preventing some mischief that might ensue; therefore 'tis prudence for the Patient to make choice (as near as he can) of such a Physician, who may tàm vespertinis, quàm matutinis horis sapere; and who may not think it a trouble to be repair'd unto in such a Case; Nescis quid serus ve­sper vehat. It may be too late to wait till next Morning. Multa cadunt inter — And I must tell you, saith the same Author, some lives have been saved by such kind of Informations, and yet no dishonour to the Physician. But the Good D. M. would be quit of the trouble of hearing any more of his Bill or of any mistakes in it, preferring his own ease before the life of his Patient. And all this notwithstanding for the good of the Patient, and to do Mankind and his Countrey men good. Credat Ju­daeus apella. Believe him who list.

With this suits the relation of the same Author of that Physician that prescribed three drams of Laudanum Opiatum for a dose, which another Phy­sician more considerate changed into three grains: and was there not reason then, Good Doctor, that an Apothecary (though but ordinarily versed in Phar­macy) should repair to the Dram-Doctor, and ra­ther give him a litle trouble, than by exhibiting the prescript to be guilty of sending the Patient to the River Lethe, by giving him almost [...] Dram too much? by which means he would not have been able the next morning to tell who hurt him.

[Page 24] Another mischief in sending Bills to th' Apothe­caries is, Pag. 33. that though th' Apothecaries be honest (and who can tell which of them is so?)

Certainly Good Doctor there are some honest persons among them. Is there no such thing in rerum naturâ? then let them be discarded root and branch! But what if it be made to appear that there are many Apothecaries, who may for honesty (without any arrogancy be it spoken) stand in Competition with this great Philosopher? and that the Good Doctor's question may be easily resolv'd, that he shall not need his brother Dio­genes his Lanthorn at noon day to find such a man?

But the Good Doctor however either cannot, or will not tell where to find such a one: Nay, he will rather endeavour to make him turn Knave, and dishonest, aut Inveniam aut faciam, if he be not so already; and this he doth by proclaiming the dearness of their Bills, and making the World believe that their Apothecary stuff costs them little or nothing, and so may be sold for a Song; all clear gains! Whereas if himself come to the or­dering of them, he will take care according to his promise to avoid th' use of Chargeable things and in stead of them to use cheaper: he shall not need to trouble himself, as he intimates, with Bezoar, Pearls, Sapphyrs, Emeralds, Ambergriese, Gold, &c. Ad quid perditio haec? these will not turn to ac­count, he will not cast Pearls before Swine. Or if he should chance to use Pearls, &c. he will put in one grain, or two at most for an hundred, as was [Page 25]formerly demonstrated from his own confession. But some men have their grains of allowance, and this Good Doctor his hundred; So 'tis an hun­dred to one but the Doctor is mistaken in the right and proportional dose of these dear Ingre­dients, and may possibly be willing enough to be so mistaken lucri gratiâ for the Patients gewds, and to do Mankind good.

But his charge is, that he commits the care of dispencing of Medicines to his servants, whilst he is visiting abroad, or at his recreations.] And I pray Good Doctor who takes care of dispencing your Medicines all the other part of the day besides that half hour that you allot your self for that busi­ness? Some Novice that was never bred up to it, whilst you are visiting, or taking your recreations, or indulging your genius; and then how far the Patients may be more accommodated, and not run more hazard to the danger of their lives, may easily be judged.

And now the Good Doctor is come to the Advantages that will come to the Patient by phy­sicians making their own Medicines, and there­of you may expect great matters. Parturiunt montes.

As for the Patients, Pag. 33. they may hereby save most of the great Charges of Apothecaries Bills. Nay after­wards in the same Narrative he tells them, the whole charge of th' Apothecaries Bills will be sav'd, for he will take nothing for his Medicines, he will give th' Apothecaries stuff gratis.] But all this with a Salvo, they must come off with handsome Sawcy [Page 26] Fees: Otherwise I pray how will this hold water? How do ye think that this Good Doctor must live in that handsome equipage, grand porte garb, and attendance, &c. which he tells you are necessary concomitants to his Profession, and promises himself (doubtless) to be Master of? This is a Paradox indeed, and will need an Oedipus to unriddle, and 'tis past my skill, Davus sum, non Oedipus. But I crave pardon, I see the Good Doctor hath his Expedient for it at hand, as he is pleas'd to communicate it, pag. 37. he will cure the Patient by Well ordering onely, without any remedies at all, or but very few, and those inconsiderable. & Pag. 36. He may avoyd all pompous, useless, chargeable Medicines of the shops, and substitute in their places cheaper: he may very well lay aside the precious stones, Sapphyrs, Emeralds, &c. the high priced Magistrals, as he calls them (he means I suppose Magisteries) of Coral and Pearl, as also Ʋnicorns horn and Bezoar, and he may also spare the charges of Leaf-gold for gilding of Pills, Electuaries, &c. Nay further to make good his assertion of the Patients advantage in saving char­ges by giving them their Medicines gratis, and to make it out how he can afford to take nothing for them, Pag. 37. he proceeds, he shall have little use of Con­serves, Syrups, Lohochs, &c. and amongst other expedients to frugalize his new trade, he shall not need to use so large Compositions, consisting of such confus'd and contrary Ingredients; and will find good reason to lay aside those unintelligible and un­reasonable Compositions of Mithridate, Treacle, and the so much magnified Treacle water.] Now then I [Page 27]am reasonably well satisfied with this expedient of the Good Doctors, which convinces me that he may afford to give his Apothecary stuff into the bargain, for he will either give little, or nothing, or else nothing to purpose; he will feed them at most, but with a bit and a knock of any dear reme­dies (I perceive that by him,) even those from whom he expects competent Fees; Nay he makes no bones of it, even to rob th' Ospittle as we say. The poor man's Physick Mithridate, and Treacle he would fain cry down; Where then is this Good Doctor's Charity?

Now as to his so much Vilipending the Grand Compositions of Mithridate and Treacle — so much magnified and cryed up by most Learned Phy­sicians Antient and Modern, I have a word to mind the Doctor of, before those be laid aside. Possibly in those Compositions of Mithridate and Treacle I will not say but that something might be amend­ed and corrected, and possibly some more analogous and proper substitutes in the room of such Ingre­dients, as were neither in our fathers days, nor are yet in ours to be had, and tautologies and repe­titions of the same Ingredients in one Composition rectified, as Learned Zwelfer hath well observed, and done that particular to our hand in part. I shall not pretend to make any Apology for them, neither to Magnifie, or Vilifie them, but shall leave that to the censure of the Honourable Society of the Colledge of Physicians as the only and most proper Judges in such a case. And whether the Compositions, or the Good Doctor be more unintelligible, or unreason­able, [Page 28]let such intelligent and reasonable persons judge. And besides Good Doctor, under favour, till better and more proper and intelligible reme­dies can be thought on, and directed in lieu of them, I conceive it may not be so seasonable to de­cry them. Neither may I pass over those two fa­mous Physicians of Rome, Damocrates and Andro­machus, to whom Pompey the Great communicated the Original description of Mithridate, after his great Victory over Mithridates himself the first Inventor, who himself was a Learned man, and able to express himself in two and twenty several Idioms, as it is reported of him; these Physicians I say did put such an estimate upon this Compositi­on, that one without much alteration, the other with the addition of Vipers and some other small addition, entitled themselves to it. The former preserving the honour of the first Inventor named it Mithridatium Damocratis. The other altering the name because of his addition of Vipers, which the Greeks call [...] calls it Theriaca Andromachi. And besides these most of all the Renowned Physici­ans that have been extant ever since, have expres­sed their high esteem of them, as Galen, Avicen, Wecker, Renodaeus, Bauderon, &c. Nay Bartholo­maeus Maranta, a famous Physician of Naples, who undertook to write a Commentary upon Trevcle, and Mithr. in his Prooemium Authoris, after his De­dicatory Epistle to Ferdinandus Imperatus, an ex­pert, and most Ingenious Apothecary of Naples, tells us, that he was wont to compare the two Antidotes of Treacle and Mithridate to the two strong Heroes [Page 29]or Champions Hercules and Theseus, Who, saith he, propounded to themselves, and acted nothing else, but that they might clear the world from many things pernicious to mankind; and what else do these two famous Antidotes perform, but that man­kind thereby may be freed from the bitings of vene­mous Serpents, and from the malice and tyranny of diseases? And this dedication of his was in Anno 1570. One hundred years since, which doth evi­dence in some degree, that th' Apothecaries pro­fession is not so Novel, as the Good Doctor would have it. But to come home to our selves concerning these things that the Good Doctor would lay aside, they having been so much made use of, and that with good success to poor people, who are neither able to give the Doctor a Fee, or to pay th' Apothecary, and considering that so much good hath been done with them by Charitable Ladies and Gentlewomen in the Countries to their poor Neighbourhood, where other or better remedies are not to be had, I do not a little hesitate at the conceit of this Good Doctor. Besides all this, A te­neris assuescere multum est, It will not be an easie matter or a task of a few days to bring the Com­mon-people off from their good opinion of such re­medies as they have been long accustom'd to, and have found benefit from. But this I confess is ultra crepidam; under the Rose, and above my sphere, or the sphere of the Company of Apothe­caries to meddle with: but is left to the judgement of the Learned Colledge (as I hinted before) to determine, who are best able, and have power to [Page 30]make what alterations they shall think fit either in this, or in any other Composition, contained in their Pharmacopoea, or Dispensatory, for the publick good.

But Quid moror? the Doctor goes on, and ap­plying himself to those of his own faculty, pag. 39. Who do or are like to comply with him, advises them to consider, Pag. 39. and they will find what a vast encouragement they have to improve their knowledge so far, that they shall not onely be able to leave Man­kind destitute of no remedy Nature did ever pro­duce (high Language!) but he tells you over and above, pag. 44. that he will be able to lay open a whole Ocean for new discoveries. Eloquere ut vi­deam Domine Doctor! (Admiranda canit.) What? no less than a whole Ocean for new discoveries! Certainly the Good Doctor hath got the Philoso­phers Stone, or is Master of the Ʋniversal Medicine, or some other great Arcanum; and then what is there that he is not able to compass both by Sea and Land? Nay further, if that will not be suffici­ent, he will not be circumscribed to sublunaries, but may go higher yet. Virg. Ecl. Ipse vel è Coelo potis est deducere Lunam, he will be able by his Chanting even to bring the Moon down from Heaven. Pag. 40.

When Dispensatories were first made th' Apothe­caries were really Physicians Servants—] And so by Consequence the Good Doctor Intitles himself Master. Yet under favour of this great Master in Philosophy, A Servant is not always oblig'd Jurare in Verba Magistri. Some circumstances there may be, that may give check to that rule; Aliis non [Page 31]benè imperat, qui sibi imperare nescit, he that can­not govern himself, and his own passions, how un­fit is it for such a man to claim the title of Master? or to expect that because [...], Ipse dixit, there should be no questioning of Authentick to quiequid in buccam—

Greater respect will be given to such Physicians, Pag. 41. and their Honour doubled, which every Physician looks principally at.

I believe and am confident that the Doctor is much mistaken in that point also: Honest Men, and Conscientious Physicians look more principally at the curing their Patients, than doubling their Ho­nour. Honesty is the truest Honour, maugre all that the Good Doctor would infer to the contrary.

He will gain and keep to himself Patients, Pag. 44. who have diseales they are unwilling should be known by A­pothecaries and their boyes, &c.

I shall not say in answer to this, that the Doctor may herein be stiled a Mountebank, as himself stiles th' Apothecaries: but if he do but Print his Bills, and make his man post them up in several places of note, signifying his name, and where his lodging is, and the hours of the day when he may be spoke with, and the diseases that he cures with such pri­vacy as Mounte-banks use to do, he may I presume have as much practice as the best of them all.

The Doctor goes on still and tells you, Pag. 47. that the great interest that Apothecaries have in families will decay for their petty officiousnesses (which Phy­sicians have put them upon;) These will be taught Nurses, and the Assistants, &c.] Now the Good [Page 32]Doctor hath alter'd the scene. What! Is the Doctor wheel'd about to collogue Nurses that in his Frontispice hath shuffled in Nutrix and Pharma­copoeus into his Distich amongst the tribe of Mounte­banks, which are not found in th' Original, as I hin­ted before in my Animadversion upon it? But any tooth (good Barber!) Rather than he will not unroost th' Apothecary, he will set up the Nurses Cock a hoop, and chuse them for his mates, but this is not so prudently done; si non Castè, sal­tem Cautè, Good Doctor. But there is a sort of persons that need to have good Memories; I perceive the Docter had forgot his Title Page. Nevertheless, as for the great Interest that Apothecaries have in fa­milies for their petty Officiousnesses (as the good Doctor calls it) which Physicians have put them upon, his hopes are, that that will decay by this his new Project (though his Expedient be but weak, and such as rellishes more of passion, and self interest.) Yet thus much I must ingeniously ac­knowledge, that Apothecaries may in the main be better employed at home in their own shops in looking after the preparations of Medicines for the Patients, and do them as good if not better service in their shops, than at their Lodgings, by visiting, and might thereby save a considerable charge in keep­ing fewer Servants. But some are partly enforced to it to preserve their acquaintance, which otherwise might possibly be taken from them by the Physician, if they should not sometimes appear; and besides some Patients will think themselves slighted, and neglected, if they should wholly absent them­selves. [Page 33]And therefore, if the good Doctor can find out a Medium by any honest Expedient, or by ta­king more care of the Patient himself to excuse th' Apothecary this trouble, he may do a good piece of service both to Patient and Apothecary.

He proceeds on as to the reasonableness of ma­king his own Medicines to support himself, Pag. 48. and to have the preheminence above those Ignorant per­sons, that would incroach—] See how hard a matter it is to pass one Paragraph without aspersing th' Apothecary! Then he comes to tell you of the great charge, study, and labour, before he can arrive at any benefit from it. That he must take the Charge­able degrees of Bachelor, Master of Arts, Bachelor in Physick, and his expences in the Ʋniversity, his Library habit, more free way of living in a suitable house, attendance, greater taxes, &c. Insomuch that he spends more before he comes to practise than will set up (perhaps) a dozen Apothecaries in a way of Livelyhood, and, besides, great summes before he can put himself in a fitting Equipage.] Ʋnde, unde precor! non bene conveniunt: Whence comes the Good Doctor to be Master of these Great Summes, come they out of the Clouds? enough to set up (perhaps) a dozen Apothecaries; Si Coelum ruerit, forsan— If the sky falls, we may (perhaps) catch larks; But what Apothecaries shops doth he mean? He means such I presume as he intends to furnish for his Pa­tients; He tells you the Physician needs not to make use of any chargeable things, &c. As he intimates in his former expedients, and so I'le grant him to speak truth in this particular.

[Page 34] He tells you that in the Plague time th' Apothe­caries took upon them the whole practice of Physick. Pag. 51.] I pray Good Doctor how came it to pass, that you had not your share in it? Must poor Patients suffer and perish without help, because the Good Doctor durst not appear, or stay by it? Was here a publick spirit? a design to do Mankind good, or rather a self Interest? Where was the good Doctor's Charity? Proximus egomet mihi; It begun at home, and there it continues, whatever he may pretend; he is not over diffusive or prodigal of it abroad.

After some digression the Good Doctor comes now to caiole the Ladies, Pag. 63. whom formerly he had entituled the Credulous Sex, believing creatures, and so now will endeavour to make that use of them to believe all to be truth which comes out of his mouth; but I presume they will be wary, and take heed whom they trust, and remember how their great Grandame Eve was deceived, and by whom, even by the Grand Criminator.

The Good Doctor seems to answer an Objection, Pag. 64. that the great expence of time in preparing Medi­cines will keep them from this course; and his an­swere is, that a Physician needs not to spend much more than half an hour in a day one with another on this work, and may faster dispence them, than Apothecaries to Hospitals, who in an afternoon can provide for an hundred or two hundred sick per­sons, and carry them, and dispose them, &c.

Now how this humour of vapouring should suit with his extraordinary care of preparing Medi­cines for the Good of his Patients, I am to seek.

[Page 35] But possibly the Good Doctor may think I speak without book, and therefore may sooth himself up in his imaginary confidence, what he can do in that half hour. I shall therefore herein refer him to that gentleman of his own faculty, Accompl. Ph. who in his Pag. 54, 55, &c. Hath candidly recited the Inconveniencies and Impossibilities of it, — which are too large for me to insert here, though they be worth the perusing.

But grant that such a thing might be done in so short a time (which is a thing absolutely impossi­ble for the Worthy Doctor to compass) doth he purpose to cure his Patients as they do in Hospitals, and Alms houses? this will malè audire. Such Pa­tients as you desire, Good Doctor, will not be wil­ling to part with their Fees for an Hospital Cure.

Another Objection which the Doctor seems to answer is, that the Apothecaries rail at this course which is undertaken by this Good Doctor, and say it will undoe them. His answer to this is that if needs one or other must be ruin'd, 'tis more reason­able that th' Apothecary should suffer than the Physi­cian —] To this I reply, that if there be a ne­cessity that one or other must be ruin'd, then cer­tainly it is but consonant to reason and impartial Justice suum cuique tribuere, (that the Saddle may be set upon the right horse) that the first Machi­nator of the design'd mischief and Artifice be the person fittest to suffer. — Nec enim lex justior ulla est, quam necis artifices arte perire suâ. There will not need any great inquisition about the person [Page 36]entitled to it: neither can the Apothecary say, Co­ram quem quaeritis adsum. But however I hope that there may be some Medium of Reconciliation whereby neither one or other may be ruin'd, We must forget and forgive; For when we have done all by Criminating and Recriminating, bonas horas malè collocando, 't will come to this point at last; as Aeneas to his Father Anchises,

Both Societies are Embarqu'd in one Bottom, so as if one sink, th'other is not like to expect much safety. And there may be some people possibly in the world, so ill natur'd, that whilst we are at this feud & dif­ference amongst our selves, may clap their hands and cry, Eja Socrates, eja Xantippe, fight dog, fight bear; Therefore under favour I conceive, it will be the great joynt interest of both Societies to preserve and maintain each others well-fare in their several re­spective Capacities,

For in summe that the Physician of himself with­out the assistance of the Apothecary should pretend to the compounding, and administring of Medi­cines to the Patient, or that the Apothecary of his own head, in any case of danger or difficulty, should dare to undertake the Cure of the Patient without consulting the Physician, I conceive that nor one [Page 37]nor other of them doth therein discharge the duty incumbent upon them; neither can they expect, in any probability, much good success, which other­wise by their joynt compliance they might, ‘Ʋt quae non prosint singula, juncta juvent.’

Then he proceeds yet further and tells you, Pag 65. that the Apothecaries will undo all the Chymists in Lon­don, and possibly ruine the Corporation of Destillers of strong waters, Drougists, and what not?] To which I answer, That the Good Doctor, because he fears all his former Chaff will not catch old Birds, nor that by all his Chanting he shall be able to deceive sober discreet persons, will therefore Ʋlteriùs progredi, he will call in for more help, he will omnem movere lapidem, leave no stone unturn'd, that may make for the ruining of th' Apothecaries. In order to which now he calls in for further assistance Chymists, Strong watermen, Drougists, and tells them a tale of a Tub, thinking thereby to make his own tale good, and to bring an Odium upon the Com­pany, but let his own turn be serv'd, and then hee'l tell them another tale also. And then if he can Poly­phemus like, of whom the Poets, Antro suo includere, get them into his clutches, all the favour that they may expect from him, is no other, than what Ʋlysses should have found, or could hope for from that Cyclops, who having devoured several of his Com­panions reserved him for his last bit. But foelix quem faciunt —

Now he comes to threaten those Gentlemen of Pag. 6 [...] [Page 38]his own faculty, who do not comply with him in his design (for he finds yet but a small appearance of Compliers) and tells them (contrary to all good manners, and ingenuity) that, Nothing but laziness, ignorance or want of will to doe good for the sick, can hinder them from complying.] I shall not pre­sume to say much to this (having given some small hint of it in the beginning) but that (whatever these Gentlemen, not willing to discover the nakedness and rudeness of their Colleague, think fit de indu­stria to pass by) I must perswade my self, that if that eloquent Oratour Cicero had been alive and to plead for those aspersed Colleagues in such a case, he would not have stuck to say, Non feram, non pa­tiar, non sinam, as once to Catiline. But yet the Good Doctor presses home towards the close with his menacing his Colleagues, viz. But those Physi­cians, that for reasons cannot, nor will not take this course, are to be admonish'd (delphinem natare doce­bit.) to doe here as the Physicians did in France, for the good of the people, viz. to tell the Patients the prices of their Medicines, and to write their Bills in English &c.] Cui bono? What will the Good Doctor gain by that? Manum de tabula— Hands off Good Doctor! Not too much upon that string, if you love your own interest. But let me mind the Doctor of what one of the Learnedst Physicians of France, Renodaeus, adviseth, in his Institut. Pharma­ceut. lib. 4. cap. 3 de arcan. celand. whereto relati­on may be had. But what cares the Good Doctor for all that? Rather than not be revenged on the Philistin Apothecary, he will be as valiant as Samp­son, [Page 39]and doe his utmost to pull the fabrick down upon his own head, as well as upon his enemies, and to sacrifice his own life in the ruines. Brave, Hero­ick, Roman valour! What cares he for his life, so he may but do his Countreymen & Mankind good, and withall be reveng'd on th' uncircumcis'd Apotheca­ry, the Common Enemy, as he tearms him, for the loss of his Eyes? And indeed the Good Doctor may possibly be oculis (vel saltem mente) captus, he hath taken his mark so much amiss, and may find hereafter by experience, that when he undertook this task, of Raking, as he calls it, into the faults of Apothecaries, he took a wrong Sow by the Ear, as we use to say in plain English.

As for any Arcanum of the Physicians own prepara­tion, I conceive the Company have not to object against it, if it be not prepared and made use of de industriâ to confine the Patient to his own Apo­thecary, or to divert the Patient from such an Apo­thecary as he desires; Nor can I believe that any ingenious Apothecary entrusted with such an Arca­num will require much profit from any other bro­ther Apothecary, that may have occasion to make use of it. However I am not of the opinion that a Physician is, or can be, oblig'd to make use of any such Apothecary, as he finds just exceptions against, and can make it appear by falsifying his prescript, or other manifest neglect, but rather conceive that the Physicians liberty may possibly reduce such an A­pothecary to his duty and make him honest. For how can the Physician expect, that (though himself prescribe the best and most proper Reme­dies, [Page 40]that upon mature consideration he can) if th' Apothecary be not honest and conscientious, as well as able, to make use of such Ingredients as are sound, and carefully prepar'd, or for lucre use such things as are exolete, or decay'd, how can (I say) the Phy­sician expect any good success out of such a shop for his Patients recovery. But such declining of an Apo­thecary I suppose the Physician ought to have good grounds for, and to have withall the Patients assent in it, if th' Apothecary be one, whom the Patients themselves make choice of. And as for the high Language that some others have used against th' Apothecaries, if their intentions be only to restrain th' Apothecaries from the Professed customary pra­ctising of Physick, w ^ch some of them seem to intimate, I shall not be willing to take cognizance of it. But yet good Language provokes not; and soft fire makes sweet Malt, as we say, ‘Flectitur obsequio curvatus ab arbore ramus.’

Nor can I judge it reasonable that an Apotheca­ry, who is entrusted with any Arcanum from a Physician, should to the prejudice of the Inventor communicate this without his consent to any other person, and thereby become a failer of trust, which amongst the rest is one of the Crimes laid to his charge.

And now having with what modest, calm and plain English I could, endeavoured to vindicate the aspersed Company, I intended to have struck off; but that I find some other Pamphlets of the Good [Page 41]Doctor's flying abroad, amongst which I observe that his reply to H.S. casts more dirt upon the Company of Apothecaries, which I shall endeavour to wipe off in a word or two before I leave him. The Good Doctor would fain make the world be­lieve, that the Company of Apothecaries combin'd with H.S. to asperse the Royal Society.

Now he is upon a new Stratageme, on purpose to create new Enemies to the Company. If he cannot compass his ends one way he will try another; Sinon-like, of whom 'tis reported in order to the bringing in of the Trojan Horse, that he was,

But we have an English Proverb concerning such Persons as are never quiet, but itching still to pro­secute new Ambages, and crafty insinuations where­by to traduce their honest Neighbours, viz. That they have as many tricks as a Dancing Horse,

(pardon my homely expression.) And then the ar­dent advice of Laocoon may not be unseasonable, ‘— Equo nè credite Teucri.’

For I can assure those Gentlemen that the Good Doctor is wholly mistaken in that point. Haud incer­ta [Page 42]cano; I speak not by conjecture, but knowingly, as we say. Quid Romae faciam? Mentiri nescio. And if these bare words will not gain belief, then that which is reported of that Sinon, that astute, subtil Greek, that he should utter, as the eloquent Poet hath it, ficto pectore, the Vindicator, this silly Igno­rant soul, as the Doctor is pleas'd to stile him, speaks in the simplicity and integrity of his heart,

Though his condition were never so despicable, the world shall not be able to tax, or implead him of venting any untruths, such as in his conscience he is convinc'd to be so, nor was it ever his ill fortune to be counted a Lyar, though the Good Doctor hath con­cluded the whole Tribe so to be. But this his faithful asseveration, he hopes, may be sufficient to any Candid and Ingenious Person, to wipe off that Ca­lumny of the Doctor's, and to clear the Company of Apothecaries, from any such Combination against the Royal Society.

But to proceed a little further; Something else I find in that Reply of the Good Doctor's, which he quotes out of Horace, to render th' Apothecaries still more vile. Projectâ vilior algâ, he is in the Doctor's account. I find them, saith he, ranked with the basest of men; ‘Ambubaiarum Collegia, Pharmacopolae.’

[Page 43] Ambubaiarum, that's a hard Word (Good Do­ctor,) Pag. 63. able to puzzle a man that is not book-learn'd, as the Doctor tells them he is able to do. But let that pass, I'le venture at it. But first (Do­ctor) let us lose none of our good Company. Sola­men miseris —. What are the rest which follow in the next verse, Horat. 1 Serm. Sat. 2. ‘Mendici, Mimae, Balatrones —’

For we are all Neighbours, Beggars, Bawds and Balatroones. And if so, then let me mind the Good Doctor, ‘Tunc tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet.’

When your Neighbours house is on fire, then Medice Cura teipsum, 'tis high time to look to your own, and to take care of your own affairs, Good Doctor. If th' Apothecary march in the Van, then 'tis but reason that some other Person should have the honour to bring up the Rere, and what person more fit for that than such a one, who propter ba­latum & vaniloquentiam, for his bawling and chanting may be justly entitled to it? The Good Doctor seconds the Satyrical Poet with a passage out of the famous and most eloquent Orator Cicero pro A. Cluentio, who made mention of a Pharmacopola Circumforaneus, who poisoned a Citizens wife of Rome, and ran away: but he was no Roman. Yet let me tell the Doctor thus much, by his Good favour, that neither the Pharmacopolae [Page 44]mentioned by Horace, nor yet the Pharmacopola Cir­cumforaneus mentioned by Cicero, which he also quotes here, can in any rational man's apprehension be construed to be Pharmacopoeus, the shop-Apo­thecary, but rather some Common Mountebanks, that made it their Trades circumforare, to go from one good Market Town to another, and there to mount the Stage to deceive the people, si populus vult decipi; Nor possibly may they be without their Troops of Pipers and Fidlers and Tinkers Trulls and Gypsies to follow the Camp, such as the Good Doctor hath ranked with them in the Van. Fur­ther, Cicero saith, But he was no Roman, and by consequence, or in all probability, no Apothecary, which acted that Venesical Moeris's part upon a Citizen's wife of Rome. But,

Further I observe, that the Good Doctor, in one of his late pieces, beggs pardon of all Learned men, especially those of his own Art, that he hath conde­scended so low, as to cope with such unworthy Ad­versaries, hoping that his Zeal for his Profession may excuse him.] (I wish he were not a greater Zealot for kindling Coals! I suppose the fire might have been extinguish'd before this, had it not been for his bellows.) 'Tis true, Aquila non captat Mu­scas, nec capit Elephantus mures. The Eagle soars aloft, and catches not at flies, and this high-flown Doctor thinks it a great disparagement and much [Page 45]below him to contend with such contemptible ad­versaries, the spawn and refuse of all. But Good Doctor, Nec sum adeo informis.—Nec omnium die­rum Pharmacopoeis occiderunt Soles. They are no such despicable creatures as this Doctor would make them. I am sure they are not so reputed in Forreign parts, nor have been so character'd abroad; they are numbred there amongst the Chief Magi­strates and Citizens, as Bartholomaeus Maranta, that Learn'd and Famous Physician of Naples, in his Dedi­cation of his Commentary of Theriaca and Mithridate to Ferdinandus Imperatus then Apothecary of the same place (which I hinted before) witnesseth. So also Learned Schroeder, before his Pharmacopoeia Medico-Chymica (than which there is not, I conceive, a more Polite and Candid piece extant upon that Subject,) I say, this Physician (who was Archiater, Physician in Chief to the Republick of Franckford) did not disdain to consecrate (as he tearms it,) that his piece to the Apothecaries of that place, whom he is pleased to mention nominatim, and to stile them in the front of an Epistle to them before his book, not dishonourably. I could name others of the same nature, as Petrus Ʋffenbachius one other of the Chief Physicians of Franckford, in his Prooemium to the publication of Renodoeus's Dispensatory, and Quercetan's; with some others, but I pass them.

But 'tis probable the Good Doctor did not think any body durst be so Bold and Sawcy, as to question any thing that came from him, being A Fellow of the Colledge (for he bears himself up still upon that foundation, as page 31. of his Reply to H. S. where [Page 46]he saith, All civil men of the faculty would have thought, a Fellow of the Colledge his affirmation had been sufficient enough against a practising Apo­thecary without putting the Case at all.] A Compleat piece of Justice! Great Pompey like with his high Language in the Senate-house, Plu­tarch. Si solum pede pul­savero, plenam exercitibus totam reddam Italiam. So the Good Doctor if he do but stamp on the ground with his foot, nay, if he do but say the word, it is argument enough (nemine contradicente) to si­lence the poor Potecary, & to have a whole Army of Physicians at his beck. And what I pray, notwithstand­ing his grandiloquy in the Senate-house, was that Great Pompey's end? After his utter defeat at the Pharsalian battel, flying into Egypt to Ptolemy for re­fuge, Mortui non mordent, put an end to his days. But he tells you, Examples enough may be shown physicians so doing. I believe, Good Doctor, you forget your self, and therein asperse the Honourable Colledge, who have more Candor and Ingenuity in them than to assume any such unlimited power, which no law doth, or can allow. And I fear you will be at a loss to produce any one such Example; and if you should be able to produce it, I must take the boldness to tell you, that it would prove little better than Apocry­pha at best: Take therefore in answer to yours, One Example, for all, out of Sacred Authentick Record, which will hold water, when yours shall not, and 'tis this. If the Idumean Prince (for so it appears in Sa­cred Writ that he was the greatest man in all the East) thought it a Crime of a high nature, and such as might bring a just Judgement from heaven upon [Page 47]him, to despise the cause of his Man-servant, Job 31.13. or his Maid-servant, when they had any difference, or con­tended with him, what will this Good Doctor, or those few that comply with him (who are some de­grees lower than Princes) do, when God shall rise up? and when he visiteth what will they answer him? Did not he that made one in the womb make th' other? and did not one fashion them both in the womb? And as one of the Greek heathen Poets, Aratus, could not but affirm, [...]. For we are also his off-spring. Lay this seriously to heart good Doctor, ‘Discite justitiam moniti, & non temnere Divos. Virg. Aeueid. 6.’

And therefore 'twas a Good Caution, that a Gentle­man of your own faculty gives; Acc. Phy. Pag. 88. That Physicians should not usurp any Authority, or Majestick Commands over th' Apothecary, other than of prescribing, direct­ing and informing what is necessary for the good of the Patient, and consequently to esteem them as free Trades-men. Indeed some such healing Language as this might happily conduce to some right under­standing, but to Rant and Chant, as this Good Do­ctor hath done, and for ought I can gather will do in insinitum, what may we expect, or what may we not expect rather? For we still see new Hydra's heads pullulating from the same stock: therefore we desire to know, in what Olympiad, or in what year of our Lord we may hope for an end of the Good Doctor's abusive language. Quoúsque tandem abutê­re —? (As that Eloquent Cicero, Or at. in Catil.) [Page 46] [...] [Page 47] [...] [Page 48] Quo te Moeri pedes? Whither will the Good Do­ctor run? It is high time I conceive, (Good Do­ctor) to sit down and be reconciled.

but he is at liberty.

As to the Good Doctors being pleas'd in his late piece to make himself merry in putting the Wittall and Cuckold so facetiously upon the Apothecaries, I shall not give either him, or my self any trouble to answer, but shall leave it to the Learned Pen of some Good Apothecaries Physician, as he tearms them, (whose joynt concern it is) and who may better know how to treat the Doctor, but all in some convenient time. In the interim let the good Doctor enjoy himself in that his mirth. For which his piece of Merry Drollery I wish him a Merry New Year, and that is all the harm I wish him.

I shall conclude this my discourse with a passage out of that Learned, and famous Physician of Paris, Renodoeus, in his Institut. Phamaceutic. Lib. 2. Cap. 2. De praeparat. differentiis. Where having treated of several Chymical preparations he proceeds thus. Verùm relictis, &c. But leaving the Chymical pre­parations, which it is often better to know, than to try, or experiment, let us pursue the wonted prepara­tions of Medicines, and the wholsome Remedies of the princes of Physicians, which every body may with security and without fear of danger make use of for [Page 49]the expelling of diseases, and the preserving of health. Of which sort are such as are daily, openly, and before all mens eyes prepar'd by th' Apothecaries: and are either for present occasion, or for some lon­ger time kept in their shops. For of these as the ne­cessity of the exigent occasion requires, the Physician one while makes choice of these Remedies, another while of those, and how much, and how prepar'd may be convenient for the driving away of this or that disease, he prescribes. Non verò parat, ne (que) praebet. But he prepares them not, nor administers them to the Patient, but the trusty and honest Apothecary, who is therefore call'd the Physicians Hand. He proceeds on. For so (saith he) it is safer for a man to commit his health and life to two than to one single person, Who whilest he alone prescribes, prepares, and administers the Medicines, as he hath the power of life and death in his own hands, so he often kills, and yet is unpunish'd. Which thing seeing it is so Impious, or Wicked, the Apothecary must of necessity be instituted or appointed, who may after the accustomed manner prepare Medicines, and keep them for future uses, as well as for present occasions.

Whether then these few and modest Animadver­sions of the Vindicator may not be construed to speak truth and plain English, according to the promise of the Author, and whether the Apothe­cary, who is not the Prescriber, be not the more fit and safe person to be intrusted to prepare and ad­minister what is prescribed, than the Physician who [Page 50]is the Prescriber himself, and by consequence, whe­ther the Good Doctor's Only Remedy may turn to any good account, he humbly submits to the judg­ment of the Ingenious, and Impartial Reader.